This kit provides a fast, reliable and convenient method to purify and concentrate high quality, high purity and inhibitor-free cell-free circulating and exosomal RNA using a convenient spin column method. This kit can purify RNA from fresh or frozen serum or plasma samples prepared from blood collected on either EDTA or Citrate, from volumes ranging from 50 µL to 200 µL. Plasma samples prepared from blood collected on heparin should not be used, as heparin can significantly interfere with many downstream applications such as RT-PCR.

Plasma/Serum cell-free circulating RNA or exosomal RNA has the potential to provide biomarkers for certain cancers and disease states. Exosomes are 40 - 150 nm membrane vesicles, which are secreted by most cell types. Exosomes can be found in saliva, blood, urine, amniotic fluid and malignant ascitic fluids, among other biological fluids. Evidence has been accumulating recently that these vesicles act as cellular messengers, conveying information to distant cells and tissues within the body. These exosomes may play a functional role in mediating adaptive immune responses to infectious agents and tumours, tissue repair, neural communication and transfer of pathogenic proteins. For this reason exosomal RNAs may serve as biomarkers for various diseases including cancer. As the RNA molecules encapsulated within exosomes are protected from degradation by RNAses they can be efficiently recovered from biological fluids, such as plasma or serum.

Kit Specifications

Minimum Plasma/Serum Input

50 μL

Maximum Plasma/Serum Input

200 μL

Size of RNA Purified

All sizes, including miRNA and
small RNA (< 200 nt)

Elution Volume

10-25 μL

Time to Complete 10 Purifications

15-20 minutes

Average Yields

Variable depending on specimen

Storage Conditions and Product Stability

All buffers should be kept tightly sealed and stored at room temperature (15-25°C) for up to 2 year without showing any reduction in performance. It is recommended to warm Lysis Buffer A for 20 minutes at 60°C if any salt precipitation is observed.